Stephen Cenatiempo and Lee Bevington depart SCA

Former Assistant Editor
SCA, Triple M

Triple M Australia By Night host Stephen Cenatiempo and SCA Fraser Coast content director Lee Bevington are departing Southern Cross Austereo amid news that the network has made up to 90 roles redundant.

Cenatiempo ends his time at the network having been at the helm of Triple M’s award-winning national Nights program since 2018. SCA has confirmed to Radio Today that neither Australia By Night nor Cenatiempo will return in 2020.

Australia By Night was awarded Best Networked Program (Provincial) at the 2019 ACRAs.

“…just a short note to let you know that the program has wrapped up for 2019,” reads a post on the show’s official Facebook page.

“From Stephen, Chloe and the team, thanks for your support throughout the year – we hope you’ve had as much fun as we have. Bye for Now.”

Another casualty of recent redundancies is Hit and Triple M Fraser Coast content director and announcer Lee Bevington.

SCA also confirmed that Bevington will no longer be at the station next year. He began his current role just eight months ago, having previously worked in programming and on-air capacities at Sunshine Coast Broadcasters, Grant Broadcasters and ARN.

After news broke of mass redundancies at Southern Cross Austereo yesterday, the company’s shares dropped 3.68%.

“The entire advertising and media sector is operating in a challenging and difficult market and Southern Cross Austereo has and is being equally affected,” a spokesperson told Radio Today.

“Management, with the support of the board, have conducted a comprehensive review of our workforce structure to provide an effective and efficient organisation for now and into the future.

“These proposed changes will impact some of our people. These decisions have not been taken lightly and we are committed to supporting our people as we work through this process.”

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Bevo Fan
4 Dec 2019 - 12:57 pm

Oh dear, SCA Management… instead of giving up your daily double shot of Kopi Luwak, you culled Bevo.

Shame. On. You.

You don’t even deserve home brand coffee.

Dave
4 Dec 2019 - 2:15 pm

So sad just before Christmas.
Best wishes to all those who have received or are yot to receive the bad news.
As someone who has been in the same boat there is light at the end of the tunnel, but sadly our commercial radio industry will continue to shrink thanks to fragmentation, networking etc.

Julie
4 Dec 2019 - 2:18 pm

I only listened for Bevo…..goodbye! Bad choice!

Beyond the grave
4 Dec 2019 - 2:21 pm

SCA has reverted back to the old Austereo management behaviours. It’s like an illness infecting it’s way across the business. Slash, cut, burn – show no mercy, pretend you care because ultimately you’re all scared.

Ryan
4 Dec 2019 - 4:08 pm

I also hear they gave a couple of techs and the Townsville Production manager of 27 years the arse..
Very sad, and a big F U right before Xmas

Don't give me that do goody good
4 Dec 2019 - 6:13 pm

Money.
The shareholders are hungry.
Maybe some of these cost cutting measures are overdue but people like Irene and Bevo?
And just before Christmas??
Low.

Realist
5 Dec 2019 - 12:42 pm

I hope all SCA management have foregone their bonuses and pay rises for the year. If things are this bad, none of you deserve to be rewarded.

Sad fact is though, despite their many poor decisions and mishandlings, they will receive both while the little people who actually produce the content get shafted. But lets blame market conditions.

Joey
5 Dec 2019 - 1:19 pm

I’ve been thinking a while that Triple M ought have gone in the opposite direction and taken the Stephen Cenatiempo show into the capital cities, especially given how often Luke Bona would refer to the program preceding his.

Given the lack of talkback radio options, especially outside Sydney and Melbourne, seems a missed opportunity to me.

There’s now more Triple Ms than ever (on digital I mean – six at last count) yet none will be talking to you at times, yes?

And what about Luke Bona? Can we trust the bean counters to keen him on? You’d hope so.

Hadley fan
5 Dec 2019 - 8:09 pm

Hey Joey, not sure that they would have ever put Cena into metro. Not really up to that level even though has won some acras. I think it’s a bit rich to talk him up at this stage coming from Muswellbrook before Newcastle. Sad he is gone but if he is as good as you say 2gb should snap him up. Acras don’t say you are cap city talent, Wish him the best though but let’s watch the talk up after a short stint in Newcastle.

Scotty Allen
6 Dec 2019 - 12:35 pm

SCA are making a few changes that in my belief are bot the best changes! Good luck guys. Have a great Christmas!!

Not good!!!!

Joey
9 Dec 2019 - 9:57 am

Excuse my ignorance Hadley Fan. Silly me, I forget that “networking” is that programming material that’s made in capital cities and pumped out into the region….rather than the other way around.

Or am I really being ignorant or merely suggesting something innovative?

Like whether the bean counters can afford to rank talent so much by level?

After all, they are bean counting, yes?

I don’t think my essential point about missed opportunity is addressed by you.

Hal Todd once told a 15 year old caller to 3AK (that was me circa 1990) that in his mind there are no amateurs, only stars. I struggled to understand his point then but I think what he meant was having an open mind to spot opportunity and talent.

This is a pertinent point when you consider Triple M hasn’t rated well at nights (before midnight) since Top 8 at 8s were a thing…and I can’t recall what they’ve done at nights since the early 90s.

Except for one program…Brian Carlton’s Spoonman. Sure enough, the same type of program we are talking about (and its ironic that SCA are taking a chance on him in Hobart while also dumping the Newcastlle program)

Extending the reach of a Newcastle-based program may have kept it viable. This point remains especially untested if the shift defaults to automation.

Anonymous
19 Dec 2019 - 6:57 pm

According to Media Spy, 4 roles including Content director David Burton (who was also on air at 4GR/Triple M) has been made redundant from the Toowoomba Stations just one of the casualties of the recent redundancies at SCA, there has been a lot of changes over there mostly with Triple M 864AM with the axing of Ray Hadley’s show in favour of Local programs, Graham Healy & Focus On The Downs Axed and now this.

Absolutely terrible & My heart goes out to all those who lost their jobs this is very sad.

Lachlan
13 Feb 2020 - 4:52 pm

Have just heard Steven presenting news on 2EC. I hope Grant Broadcasters pick him up and maybe rebirth Australia By Night!

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